TRENCHROT (Usa) Dragged down to hell Demo tape out now! Old school death

The first demo of TRENCHROT is now available on tape.Expect old school Death metal mostly influenced by the old European genre(s).Listening you could occur to think about: Fast old PESTILENCE (The demos or "Consuming impulse"), heavy and doomier old ASPHYX, tremolo ridden early DISMEMBER, D-beat crusty CARNAGE, touches of BOLT THROWER, with scorched vocals closer to Van Drunen and a cool powerful (But no buzzsaw) production.There are good old school vibes, hot energies, and something natural we could simply call "Old school".

NO CLEAN SINGING Blog:I know almost nothing about TrenchRot. They are from Philadelphia, and through a little web sleuthing I’ve figured out that their members include vocalist/guitarist Steve Jansson, who has split time between a speed metal band named Infiltrator and a sludge band named Grass. And beyond that, they’re a mystery. Except for their music; I do know about that.Earlier this month TrenchRot posted a three-track demo named Dragged Down To Hell on Bandcamp. You can pay what you want to get it. The music is neither speed metal nor sludge, but death metal. TrenchRot’s beefy death metal stew has a strong old-school flavor but it doesn’t sound like re-packaged, cookie-cutter hero worship. The songs are distinctive, and galvanizing.For the most part the three demo tracks blaze away at a thrashing pace, propelled by slaughtering riffs, squalling guitar leads, and a mix of percussive rhythms, all hell-bent on sonic demolition. Where the pacing changes, it’s a drop down on all fours for a moaning, groaning death-doom crawl.Jansson’s vocals are suitably disgusting, a raw, mid-range yell that approximates the sound of vomiting, but with words. They reminded me a bit of Martin Van Drunen (Asphyx, Hail of Bullets).I think Dragged Down To Hell is a very impressive start. I hope we’ll hear more from this project in the future. Links and song streams are below.

DESTRUCTIVE MUSIC:Here is a decent little find for you all. Go to Trenchrot’s bandcamp and you’ll find their debut demo entitled “Dragged Down To Hell” as a free download. In my opinion that is a decent way for a young death metal band such as this to get their name out there and this Philadelphia four piece isn’t just a free giveaway with nothing to back it up. Opening with “Gallery of the Dead” the band are quick to hit in at ramming speed with a battering display of hostile riffs, frantic and energetic drumming and angry, pent up growls! More of the same is to follow during “Trapped Under Treads” as the bands catchy enigmatic sound steps up a notch to become more abrasive, pummeling and deadly. not only that but this track offers an insight into the bands more clinical, slower, crushing and menacing side before title track “Dragged Down Into Hell” tops off the demo by descending things into an all out brawl of devastating riffs, carnal thoughts and beast like heaviness. Watch out for more from these guys in the very near future! 7/10

NIHILISTIC HOLOCAUST Webzine:If you weren't subject to deafness, you would hear the grave calling your name in eternity.In fact, you are very late and the intestines of the flesh-devouring undeads grumble in hunger!TRENCHROT is a new band that plays old school Death metal in a style close to the 90's European genre(s), composed without artifices and in a natural sounding manner.While listening to their 3 tracks you happen to think about some PESTILENCE (Rather the demos and the 2nd album), early ASPHYX (Mid-paced heaviness), old BOLT THROWER (Calls to war or heavy moments with epic guitars), some early DISMEMBER/ CARNAGE (In fast parts, sometimes d-beat driven), and a couple of others.The vocals are quite tearing and happen to remind of Van Drunen or a bit of Obituary.There's a nice hot atmosphere, something like a little "bluesy" feeling that could remember of MASTER in a way... (The safest way to describe this might be to underline the music is simply old school, in a cool way, and not particularly necro/ raw/ vomiting).The tracks are composed in a nice manner that makes it flow nicely; You might not notice at first hear because some riffs are simple, but it seems they try to make songs.I feel the band might still be searching for a style to focus on, the 3 tracks occur to contain quite "varied" influences.TRENCHROT is not a casket-blaster yet, but their music contains some qualities and some feeling that bring some charm on the meatman's table, so keep a finger or two on their coffin to feel if it burns with more intensity in the future.(I will release this demo on tape in a few days/ weeks, even if a part of this review was written two months ago, other words might have been written under the charm of the rot from the trench AhAh)

VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE Webzine (Ger):“TRENCHROT make music within the stricture of two rules: 1. Play Death Metal 2. Crush posers” That’s a quote from the band’s Facebook page and I would say both rules were followed wholehearted. Mission completed!!! “Dragged Down To Hell” is TRENCHROT’s first sign of life and believe me it is a damned fine and very remarkable first sign of life. Gab from Nihilistic Holocaust dug out an excellent and very promising band. Those US based fiends deliver finest old school Death Metal which should please every fan of old masters such as PESTILENCE, ASPHYX, DEATH, SADISTIC INTENT and the likes. Especially early PESTILENCE came in my mind now and then while listening to “Dragged Down To Hell”. But you shouldn’t get me wrong, I don’t say that TRENCHROT is a copycat, they just play a similar style and are able to create a very similar atmosphere. This demo tape consists of three very wide-ranging compositions, fast galloping parts rotate with powerful slower parts which reminds me of the blasphemous and massive doom parts of their country-mates INCANTATION. Each song is well arranged and performed with the right attitude and the knowledge of how Death Metal should be played. Well, this is a highly recommended piece of sacrilegious Death Metal you definitely should add to your collection and TRENCHROT is definitely a band you should keep an eye on… Can’t wait for future releases. Thumbs up!!! Hacker

The first album of the band is in the process, keep watching for more infos.

Bands/ Labels get in touch for trades (Even single copies).gabsk(a)wanadoo.fr

GreetzGabriel

NOCTURNAL CULT Webzine (Usa)Philadelphia's old school death machine unleashes their debut demo and I must say, this is probably the best thing that Nihilist Holocaust has sent my way. The three songs found on here are a brutal hybrid of early Autopsy and Stockholm style Swedish death. Of course that is an oversimplified version of what is going on here. For instance on the demo's opener, Gallery Of The Dead charges forth with a set of riffs that bring to mind Unleashed's debut album while dessicated vocals scream from beyond the grave. The track drops into a chugging segment before speeding headlong into crushing riffs. I hear hints of Unorthodox era Edge Of Sanity churning in the fabric song before the guitars hack away and then flex around atmospheric leads. Amped up doomy guitars sway to and fro while angular melodic accents create an Rack era Asphyx comparison on Trapped Under Treads. The doom passages drift into an amalgam of Asphyx and Autopsy as the song continues. And a huge parallel to Asphyx's Last One On Earth period occurs when the guitars hit a section of monolithic chugging riffs at the 3:00 minute mark. This is some of the most crushing death metal I have heard in a long time. UGH. The final track, Dragged Down To Hell is a bit of a scorcher compared to the previous songs as it battles along at a rapid pace while riffs arc like bolts of lightning across the sky. A darkly melodic lead ushers in a set of riffs that are rotted and putrid. Trenchrot's first demo is a sight to behold as it lays on thick layers of the best aspects old school death metal while still remaining fresh, despite the unholy stench of death that surrounds each and every riff on this demo. I can't wait to hear what these guys do with a full album.

It is still available from this webshop: http://nihilisticholocaust.bigcartel.com/Against the low price of 2 Euros + postage...For this price, no need to bother downloading the songs from russian blogs, to burn it on CDr, and then finally duplicate the sounds on tape?

NIHILISTIC HOLOCAUST Underground adventures,to be continued.

Gabriel

DEATHDOMAIN Webzine (Swe)French label Nihilistic Holocaust really likes cassettes, and to be honest so do I. The latest release comes in the form of Philadelphia based death metal-band Trenchrot.Trenchrot, while being from the US, hasn’t really got the typical US-Death Metal sound. I’d rather say that the sound is more European with some splashes of stuff like Autopsy. This type of Old School Death Metal has really been trending during the past few years, and honestly, I see no problem with this as long as it is done tastefully and with fervour and soul. Within a scene where a lot of bands doesn’t succeed to stand above the rest, Trenchrot is a band that do.I wouldn’t go as far as saying that Trenchrot is something beyond most of today’s bands in the New Wave of Old School Death Metal-scene, but dammit! When the three tracks on this demo are over, I choose to<<–Rewind & > Press play on tape. 7,5/10

Fuckin crap… it is the second time I write this review; I thought that the one I wrote earlier this year has been published long time ago, but it turned out it wasn’t… and that I couldn’t find it anywhere. Well, no problem there though! At least it gives me an opportunity to listen to “Dragged Down to Hell” once more, as this is just truly killer and awesome demo and I can certainly say that Trench Rot did release one of my favourite demo cassettes of the year. The band is still quite new, formed probably recently, as “Dragged Down to Hell” is only the debut of these four guys… but damn, the music sounds just fantastic and certainly Trench Rot doesn’t sound like yet another mediocre band in the crowd. They are not like these…The demo is rather short, with only three songs and twelve minutes of music on the clock. But for fuck sake, each of these three tracks is just awesome and I cannot stop banging my head, when such wonderful sounds of old school, traditional death metal start devastating my hearing. There’s nothing uncommon and original about this band; their music is traditional to the bone and has been explored many times by many bands before. But what is so awesome about “Dragged Down to Hell” is that Trench Rot simply composed three absolutely crushing songs, which are equally great to some songs of the bands from which they probably have been taking influences from… I can hear a lot of passion and enthusiasm towards this music from these guys; they have this feeling and skill of composing killer death metal and making it sound powerful, energetic, but also atmospheric, with its dark, horror mood. I think that Trench Rot have been equally influenced by the bands from several different regions of the world: the most obvious resemblance is in my opinion Asphyx (also because the vocalist sounds a lot like Martin van Drunen… but that is not a complain; Steven Jansson has truly awesome growling vocals), and the Dutch scene in general (with bands like Acrostichon, Pentacle, early Pestilence and Thanatos)… then there’s a strong resemblance here and there to Bolt Thrower and finally also to the Swedish death metal legendary scene. And everything is topped with the necessary dose of two of the greatest bands ever – Autopsy and “Scream Bloody Gore” era Death. Put all these bands together and you’ll get “Dragged Down to Hell”. Three songs, each is just superb, but my favourite is probably “Gallery of the Dead”, but that doesn’t mean that “Dragged Down to Hell” and “Trapped Under Treads” are any less exciting and killer… No, not at all. Fuck, you know what? I love this demo so much that I will give it a perfect score… and if no one will release it on 7’EP then I will fuckin do it! Keep your eyes open for Trench Rot – killer, killer band!Final rate: 100/100

And Greek mailorder BLASTBEAT MAILMURDER wrote a very nice dscription:

Another cool tape from Nihilistic Holocaust!This american band executes amazingly well death metal in the old-school european veins and with a top notch production! They are crushing, they are catchy and they have some variety going on in the songs. Check them out and get this cool tape now!

TRANSCENDING OBSCURITY Webzine (India)Nihilistic Holocaust always digs out the most promising Death Metal bands from the underground and this time is no different. What we have here is the demo of the American TrenchRot, playing Death Metal in the old school style with the thrashiness intact. It’s reminiscent of grating-era Asphyx (you’d know) mingled with some American sounds a la Malevolent Creation (first three albums) and first two albums era Solstice. Basically a mix of Floridian thrash-period Death Metal and Dutch gnarling.The three songs display sheer promise, slowing down when needed as well as rampaging when it shines the most. These days bands like these are hard to come by, this level of energy is missed, where it’s about brutality and technicality than the catharsis of raw emotions. To cite more modern yet old school bands peddling in this art, think of a cross between say Affliction Gate and Glory Hole if it makes any difference, same meaning, same description but with newer, underrated bands. There’s always a place for good music and there are bands cropping up every now and then to remind us of just that.With three songs, ‘Dragged Down to Hell’ is rather short and keeps me wanting for more, but it easily dispels any doubts about the potential of this band. TrenchRot is the one to look forward to for some really gritty, teeth-gnashing, rabid Death/Thrash Metal with passion and fervour of the old school kind.

BRUTALISM Webzine (Hol)The most irritating thing one can come up with when listening to music is, having a band he actually likes and being able to find nothing about em on the net! Nothing at all! Same thing with those guys here. A demo of 2013 for review. The demo kicks ass, and when the research starts, the only thing available, is a Bandcamp page that has no other information than actually saying that they are from Philadelphia-USA, and that this demo is their very first release, succeeded by their full length of 2014. "Dragged Down To Hell" is the name of their demo and it really is a great example of well played old school death metal! Old school, mostly European style although these lads are Americans! Once the CD starts, you will find a music influenced deeply by bands as Asphyx, old Entombed, Centinex and of course Autopsy. You can understand from the references that the demo is mainly mid tempo, with groovy guitar riffs and leads as the main tool to work on! The first song kicks in and after it's majestic intro all hell breaks loose! 'Gallery Of The Dead' is the title, and the place has already started to smell like Sweden did when it still knew how to play aggressive death metal. The glorious days of old unfold before you as this one proceeds. The vocals are very Van Drunen style, and they have an excellent flow. The starting riff is brilliant and the song is constructed upon it with leads and other enhancements making it a very powerful track as a starter. The second one has the title 'Trapped Under Treads' and it couldn't be very far from our predictions after the first! A bit more mid tempo than the first one and in this one we find the Autopsy influences more intense mainly due to the slow crawling break in the middle. The title track is the last one. This one starts with a small blast, but just for a while. The main song just keeps it groovy! Thrashy drum patterns, fat old school death metal riffs and let battle commence! 12 minutes total running time, and that is not enough. The production is the proper production for the kind. Fat and stinky, leaving enough room for every instrument to breath, but also muddy enough to create this choking feeling such releases need to have! An ultimate must for the old schoolers out there and the perfect reason for someone to search more on these guys! Old school bone crushing death metal at its best ladies! What ya waitin for?

TREATS FROM THE UNDERGROUND Webzine (Usa)"DRAGGED DOWN TO HELL" is the first demo release, on cassette from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's very own TRENCH ROT. These guys play a monstrous style of old school Death Metal music. The style they play is more in the form of European Death Metal from the early '90's. They have a thick raw and aggressive sound that is brutal as shit. They add in some Doom Metal elements in the slower more dragging and chugging parts. The vocals are done in a thick and groggy low ended Death Metal growl style that is almost understandable. The dark, cold vibe sometimes gives them a bit of a Black Metal feel as well. The production of their album takes me back to the late '80's and early '90's when I was doing a lot of tape trading with bands all over the world. This is an absolute must for fans of early BOLT THROWER, DISMEMBER, ASPHYX, CARNAGE & PESTILENCE. TRENCH ROT is yet another great underground Death Metal band that can be added to the long list that Philadelphia has birthed!